Sophia Smith Powers U.S. Over Vietnam in 2023 Women's World Cup Opener

The U.S. women’s national team got its 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign underway Friday night with a 3–0 win over Vietnam.

Sophia Smith, who is part of the 14 World Cup first-timers on the USWNT’s roster, carried her team with a first-half brace, scoring in the 14th minute and again right before the break. Smith also had a beauty of a pass to set up Lindsey Horan’s goal in the second half. The U.S. captain was itching to score all match and finally did when Smith found her at the top of the box. With the goalkeeper out of position, Horan blasted it through to give the U.S. a more comfortable lead.

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While some were expecting a blowout, it wasn’t quite the 13–0 pounding the U.S. served over Thailand in its 2019 opener. Much of that was because of Vietnam goalie Tran Thi Kim Thanh. The U.S. kept Thanh busy all game long with 28 shots on goal, but the goalkeeper often found a way, even on an Alex Morgan penalty kick.

The game started with a scare for the U.S. when Trinity Rodman went down in the first minute of the game. The forward was holding her back while on the ground and a stretcher came out, but Rodman walked off on her own and came back into the game just a few minutes later. Morgan also briefly left the game when she collided with a Vietnam player while going for the rebound on her penalty attempt.

 Below are the highlights from the game. 

Second Half

• FULL TIME: The U.S. defeats Vietnam 3–0. Next up for the U.S. is a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final against the Netherlands.
• Defenders Kelley O'Hara and Sofia Huerta sub in in the 84th minute for Emily Fox and Crystal Dunn, using up the last of the U.S.'s subs. 
• 3–0: After itching to score all night, Lindsey Horan finally gets on the board, scoring off a beautiful pass from Smith. 

• Alyssa Thompson subs in for Trinity Rodman, and the 18-year-old becomes the second-youngest player to play for the U.S. at the World Cup. 
• The USWNT turns to the bench around 15 minutes into the second half as Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle enter the game, subbing in for Sav DeMelo and Alex Morgan. This gives Rapinoe her 200th cap for the USWNT. 
• Captain Lindsey Horan was given the game's first yellow card in the 56th minute for a high boot. 

First Half

• 2–0: Sophia Smith found the back of the net in stoppage time, but it was ruled offside on the field. After a VAR check, Smith was awarded her second goal of the game.  

• Morgan collided with a player while fighting for the rebound. Morgan momentarily left the pitch but returned to action shortly after. 

• After Rodman got tripped up in the box, VAR determined it was a penalty. Morgan took the penalty kick, but Thi Kim Thanh Tran made the save for Vietnam.

• 1–0: Sophia Smith opened up scoring in the 14th minute when Lindsey Horan pushed the ball upfield, Alex Morgan got a quick touch and Smith calmly took it from there. 

• Things got off to a scary start when forward Trinity Rodman collided with a Vietnam defender in the opening minute of the match and appeared to have hurt her back. She was able to walk off the field on her own and returned to the game a couple minutes later.